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98
Mr. Waller's Speech

­ple; 'tis not the restitution of our ancient Laws a­lone, but the restauration of our ancient Courage, which is expected from your Lordships. I need not say any thing to move your just indignation, that this Man should so cheaply give away that which your Noble Ancestors with so much Cou­rage and Industry had so long maintain'd: You have often been told how careful they were, tho' with the hazard of their Lives and Fortunes, to derive those Rights and Liberties as entire to Po­sterity as they received them from their Fathers: what they did with labour, you may do with ease; what they did with danger, you may do securely: the foundation of our Laws is not shaken with the Engine of War; they are only blasted with the Breath of these Men, and by your Breath they may be restored.

What Judgments your Predecessors have gi­ven, and what Punishments their Predecessors have suffered for Offences of this nature, your Lordships have already been so well inform­ed, that I shall not trouble you with a repe­tition of those Precedents: Only (my Lords) something I shall take leave to observe of the Person with whose Charge I have presented you, that you may the less doubt of the wilfulness of his Offence.

His

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